DE102022201969A1 - Charger, charging cable, charging system and method of charging an accumulator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging device with an energy input for supplying energy and at least one energy output for connecting a rechargeable battery to be charged. The charging device according to the invention is characterized in that the at least one energy output comprises a communication circuit which has a communication interface, at least two communication paths based on different communication protocols and at least comprises a sensor for reading a code, wherein an electronic controller of the charger is set up to connect one of the communication paths to the communication interface as a function of a code that has been read out.

Description

The invention relates to a charger of the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1, a charging cable of the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 7, a charging system with such a charger and such a charging cable, and a method for charging an accumulator with such a charging system .

In the course of electromobility, small vehicles such as bicycles, scooters, longboards and the like are increasingly being electrified. Such miniature vehicles typically use secondary batteries, i.e. accumulators, as energy stores. Depending on the manufacturer and model, these accumulators differ in their geometric dimensions, capacity and electrical properties, i.e. the current, voltage and electrical power that can be provided by the accumulator when discharging or required for charging.

The chargers used to charge e-bike or pedelec batteries are typically designed for use with the stationary power grid, for example a 230 volt or 110 volt grid. In order to be able to charge the accumulators with the electrical system of a motor vehicle, voltage converters have been proposed, which are connected between the electrical system of a vehicle and the corresponding charger, for example to convert a voltage from 12 volts to 230 volts and thus the accumulator of the e-bike to load. However, this solution is ineffective because the losses of the voltage converter and the charger add up.

There is also a need for a charger that is as flexible as possible, with the help of which the accumulators from a wide variety of e-bike manufacturers can be charged in order to avoid having to keep different chargers available.

Out of DE 20 2012 006 053 U1 is a universal mobile charger for lithium-ion batteries from 12 to 42 volts, which is supplied with energy via a vehicle electrical system. The charger enables mobile charging of e-bike batteries, even from different e-bike manufacturers. The charger can be carried along in the vehicle, for example a mobile home, and can be connected to the vehicle electrical system via any power connection in the vehicle, for example a cigarette lighter, a trailer hitch socket or the like. The batteries can then be removed from the e-bikes transported with the vehicle and connected to the charger for charging. The charger monitors the current present at the current input and the current fed through to the accumulator at the current output. The charger adapts the current provided at the output to the type of battery connected to the charger, so that it is possible to charge batteries from different manufacturers. By monitoring the current present at the current input, the vehicle battery is protected. The voltage of the vehicle's electrical system is monitored, with the charger automatically switching off if the voltage falls below a critical value. This can prevent a deep discharge of the vehicle battery. If the vehicle's engine is started, the charger can recognize this and switch itself on again. This enables the accumulator to be charged while driving, with electric power being provided for the charger not only from the vehicle battery but also via a generator or the vehicle's alternator. In addition, two accumulators can be charged at the same time with the aid of the charging device disclosed in the publication.

Out of DE 10 2010 042 018 A1 a bicycle carrier for a motor vehicle is known. The bicycle carrier has an integrated charger for e-bike batteries, which can also be used to charge several e-bikes at the same time. The charger is connected to the vehicle's electrical system via the socket on the vehicle's trailer hitch. The e-bikes are placed on the bike rack and the charger is connected to a charging interface on the e-bikes. The accumulators are taken from the e-bikes.

Out of DE 20 2012 103 996 U1 a charging cable and a charging system for electric vehicles are known. The charging cable has an integrated code, for example an RFID chip or a barcode that is read by a stationary charging station. As a result, the charging station receives information about which type of battery is connected to the charging station and can derive from this which charging voltage and/or which charging current the charging station should use to charge the battery. The coding can also include information describing the required charging cycle of the accumulator. The coding is integrated in a connector of the charging cable.

DE 10 2015 014 173 A1 discloses an adapter plug for the electrical socket on a trailer hitch of a motor vehicle in order to be able to supply electricity to a bicycle carrier and e-bikes mounted on it at the same time. To the energy However, manufacturer-specific charging cables must be used to supply the e-bikes.

Furthermore is off EP 3 552 294 B1 a method for charging a battery from the vehicle electrical system of a motor vehicle is known, the battery not being part of the vehicle electrical system. The publication describes a vehicle with a bidirectional charging interface for small vehicle batteries. With the help of the bidirectional charging interface, the accumulators of the small vehicles can be charged, or electrical energy can be drawn from these accumulators in order to support the vehicle electrical system in the event of voltage peaks. The bidirectional charging interface is controlled by a control unit in order to be able to charge any type of battery with any voltage differences using a DC converter. The control unit is integrated into the vehicle. Several accumulators can also be charged or discharged at the same time. However, the disadvantage here is that the bidirectional charging interface is permanently integrated into the vehicle. It is therefore not possible to retrofit vehicles.

The present invention is based on the object of specifying an improved charging system with a charging device and a charging cable and an improved method for charging a rechargeable battery, with the aid of which the convenience for a user of the charging system can be increased even further compared to solutions known from the prior art .

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a charging device having the features of claim 1, a charging cable having the features of claim 7, a charging system having the features of claim 9 and a method for charging an accumulator having the features of claim 11. Advantageous configurations and developments result from the dependent claims.

A charging device according to the invention comprises an energy input for supplying energy and at least one energy output for connecting a battery to be charged, as well as power electronics for converting an electric current fed through from the energy input to the energy output, and an electronic controller for controlling or regulating the power electronics. The electronic controller is set up to control the power electronics in such a way that, depending on the accumulator connected to the energy output, an electric current intensity and voltage specified for the respective accumulator is provided at the energy output. According to the invention, the at least one energy output comprises a communication circuit, which comprises a communication interface, at least two communication paths based on different communication protocols and at least one sensor for reading a code, wherein the electronic controller is set up to connect one of the communication paths to the communication interface depending on a code that has been read out .

The charging device according to the invention makes it possible to charge a single accumulator or also to charge at least two accumulators connected to the charging device at the same time. Accumulators from different manufacturers can also be charged. The charger automatically selects the appropriate current and voltage for the respective battery. Some accumulators, such as the accumulators of most e-bikes or pedelecs, have electronic components that enable the respective accumulator to be monitored during charging and/or information to be read out. Depending on the manufacturer, however, a wide variety of communication protocols are used to communicate with the accumulator, for example indirectly via a battery management system of the respective accumulator. With the help of the charger according to the invention, the convenience for a user of the charger can be increased in such a way that the charger automatically recognizes a type of battery connected to the charger and automatically establishes communication with the respective battery. This enables a particularly reliable and safe monitoring of the charging process of the respective accumulator.

In this case, the structure of the communication circuit is kept particularly simple, as a result of which the manufacturing costs of the charging device according to the invention can be reduced. Thus, only a single communication interface is provided for each communication circuit, to which the respective communication path suitable for the corresponding accumulator is automatically switched by the electronic controller. The provision of a single communication interface increases the convenience for the user of the charger even further, since a charging cable is always connected to the charger at the same interface, even with different battery types, and no other adapters have to be used. The user also does not have to manually tell the charger which communication protocol to use to communicate with the battery.

The charger can be connected to various voltage sources via the energy input, such as a vehicle electrical system. This can be a low-voltage electrical system, for example an electrical system with a voltage in the range between 6 and 59 volts, for example 12 volts, 24 volts or 48 volts. However, it can also be a high-voltage electrical system, as is the case in particular in electrified vehicles, that is to say vehicles with an electric motor as the drive. The voltage of the high-voltage vehicle electrical system is typically above 60 volts, for example in the range of 400 volts or 800 volts.

In order to charge several accumulators at the same time, the charging device can preferably have two or more energy outputs. The electronic control selects a charging voltage, charging current intensity, charging power, charging curve and the like that is suitable for the type of battery, i.e. adapts the charging behavior to the respective battery.

Accumulators can be identified via the sensor or the communication interface. The sensor reads a coding integrated into a charging cable, which tells the charger which type of battery is connected to the charging cable with the charging cable. This coding can be any proven coding such as an NFC chip, an RFID tag, an optoelectronic code, a magnetic coding or the like.

The communication interface on the charger can be designed as a plug or socket. For the transmission of information and electrical energy, the communication interface can have any number of contacts or pins of any design. The communication paths can have any number of strands, for example they can be two-wire communication paths. If the charging device has a number of energy outlets, then a number of communication circuits are also provided accordingly, since each energy outlet has such a communication circuit.

An advantageous development of the charger provides that a first communication path is formed by a CAN bus and a second communication path is formed by a UART data line. CAN and UART are communication protocols or communication paths that are used particularly frequently by manufacturers of e-bikes, so that communication between the charger and the battery is ensured for most batteries. In general, it is of course possible for the communication circuit to have more than two, for example three, four, five or even ten communication paths, with the electronic controller connecting the communication path to the communication interface with the communication protocol required by the respective battery when a battery is connected.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the charging device, the electronic controller is set up to read out an identification feature of a cable to be connected via the at least one sensor and only feed electricity through to the energy output when the electronic controller reads an identification feature known to it. This improves safety when using the charging device according to the invention. Only the cables that have the identification feature enable a connection between the accumulator and the charger.

Such cables are manufactured by authorized manufacturers, which ensures that certain quality requirements are met. Unauthorized cables cannot be used, which may, for example, contribute to a fire hazard due to poor workmanship.

The same sensor can be used to read out or recognize the identification feature as the sensor for reading out the coding. However, a separate sensor can also be provided. Analogously, the reading out of the identification feature is based on an RFID technology, NFC, the detection of a change in an electric or magnetic field, the reading out of an optoelectronic code or the like. It is also conceivable for the communication interface to have separate contacts, which allow the identification feature to be read when a cable is connected to the charger. Known identification features are stored in a physical storage medium in the electronic control or in a physical storage medium that can be read by the electronic control.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the charging device according to the invention, this includes a power board, which includes the power electronics, and a processor module, which includes the electronic controller, the processor module being arranged on the power board so that it can be replaced. As a result, the charger has a modular structure. This enables a particularly flexible and cost-effective production of different versions of the charger. In this way, different power boards can be developed, which differ, for example, in the number of energy outputs and/or the type of the power electronics. In a first charger, for example, the power electronics are only intended for charging e-bike batteries, and in a second charger there is also an energy output with an output voltage of 5 volts and a USB type C connection or a Lightning connection. so that in addition to e-bike batteries, mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets can also be charged.

Similarly, different electronic controls can be integrated on the processor module. The various electronic controls can differ in their range of functions, which will be discussed in more detail below. In this way, different power boards can be combined with different processor modules in order to enable the different versions of the chargers. If there is a defect, broken components can also be replaced particularly easily. For example, if an electronic component of the processor module fails, the processor module can be replaced and the power board can continue to be used.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the charger, this has at least one data interface in the form of a display connection, a connection for a portable storage medium, a Bluetooth module, a WLAN module, an NFC module, and/or a network connection, in particular an Ethernet -connector, on. With the help of the listed data interfaces, the convenience for the user of the charger can be further improved. A display can be connected to the display connector to display information to the user. For example, the user can be informed about the progress of a charging process and/or receive accumulator-related information, for example the information that the accumulator exchanges with the charger via the communication interface. For example, the user can also find out about the charging curve used and/or an aging progress of the accumulator. Data can also be read out via a portable storage medium or transferred to the charger. The portable storage medium can be, for example, a flash memory such as an SD card, compact flash card, memory stick or the like, or a USB stick. With the help of Bluetooth, WLAN, in particular using the Wi-Fi standard, NFC or the like, mobile terminals such as tablet computers or smartphones can be coupled to the charger in a particularly convenient manner. For example, an application can be run on a corresponding mobile terminal device in order to display information received from the charging device in a particularly convenient and easy-to-understand manner on the corresponding mobile terminal device and/or to operate the charging device. This can also be used to inform the user of the charger about a possible defect or error. In this way, the user can be informed if, for example, individual cells in the battery are damaged or if the charger itself has been damaged. Firmware updates can also be transferred to the charger via the appropriate data interfaces. This allows security updates to be imported and/or a scope of functionality to be expanded, so that the charger can, for example, recognize other cables and/or be able to identify previously unknown rechargeable battery types. Similarly, data can be read out via a network connection or transmitted to the charger. The user of the charger can also be informed about the charge status of a battery to be charged via the use of his mobile terminal device, even if the user is not in the vicinity of the charger. If the user is busy with another activity, for example, he can receive a push message on his smartphone that a first battery to be charged has reached a certain charge level, whereupon the user replaces the first battery with a second battery that is also charged shall be.

The data interface or at least one of the data interfaces is preferably integrated in the processor module. In this way, different processor modules can be produced that have different data interfaces. Higher-priced chargers then have a larger selection of data interfaces, for example. However, individual data interfaces can also be integrated on the power board.

According to the invention, a charging cable with a first connection for connecting to an energy output of the charging device, a second connection for connecting a rechargeable battery and an electrical line which connects the first and second connection comprises a first coding integrated into the first connection. A battery to be charged can be connected to the charger with the help of the charging cable. The first coding is integrated into the first connection with which the charging cable is connected to the charger. As already mentioned, the first coding can be, for example, an RFID tag, an optoelectronic code, an NFC chip, a magnet or the like. The first coding can also be a chip which is read out by the charging device via contacts and a corresponding data line the can. The electrical line can have any number of cores or strands adapted to a particular type of accumulator.

The charging cable preferably includes a second coding integrated into the first connection. The second coding can be implemented analogously to the first coding or a different technique can also be used. For example, the first coding can be an RFID tag and the second coding can be an NFC chip. In this way, a mutual influencing of the codings is avoided in a particularly effective manner. However, the first and second coding can also be integrated into the first connection with a sufficient distance from one another and/or can be shielded from one another, so that, for example, two NFC chips can be read out without interference.

In a charging system with a charging device as described above and a charging cable as described above, the electronic controller is set up according to the invention to connect one of the communication paths to the communication interface depending on the first coding. In other words, the charging cable signals to the charging device which communication path and thus which communication protocol it should use to communicate with a rechargeable battery. Corresponding information is indicated by the first coding.

The first coding can also include additional information, such as information relevant to carrying out the charging process. These include, for example, a charging voltage, charging current, charging curve or the like to be used by the charging device for a charging process. In general, however, it is also conceivable that the corresponding information is stored in the electronic control itself or in a physical storage medium that can be read by the electronic control, and the electronic control is only informed by reading the first coding as to which charging information it should read from its memory . If the coding only includes the information about which communication protocol and correspondingly which communication path is to be used for communication with the accumulator, it is also conceivable for the electronic controller to read out the information relevant to the charging process directly from the accumulator, for example by communicating with the battery Accumulator management system.

If new accumulator types are brought onto the market, charging curves and the like required for the corresponding new accumulator type can be integrated into the first coding of a charging cable which is also newly brought onto the market. However, as already mentioned, new charging information can also be imported into the electronic control system by means of an update.

The second coding preferably includes the identification feature. It is generally possible for the identification feature to also be integrated into the first coding. However, if the second coding includes the identification feature, the first coding can be produced more simply and with less effort. However, a second coding must then be integrated into the first connection of the charging cable so that the charger also starts the charging process for charging the accumulator.

• - Anschließen des Energieeingangs des Ladegeräts an ein Fahrzeugbordnetz;
• - Anschließen des ersten Anschlusses des Ladekabels an einen Energieausgang des Ladegeräts;
• - Anschließen des zweiten Anschlusses des Ladekabels an einen zu ladenden Akkumulator;
• - Auslesen der ersten Kodierung durch die elektronische Steuerung über den Sensor;
• - Aufbau einer Kommunikationsverbindung zwischen der elektronischen Steuerung und dem Akkumulator unter Anwendung eines vom Akkumulator erforderlichen Kommunikationsprotokolls;
• - Beziehen von Steuerungsbefehlen durch die elektronische Steuerung, wobei die elektronische Steuerung die Steuerungsbefehle in Abhängigkeit einer durch Interpretation der ersten Kodierung bereitgestellten Anweisung aus der ersten Kodierung, einem physischen Speichermedium des Ladegeräts oder einem physischen Speichermedium des Akkumulators erhält;
• - Ansteuern der Leistungselektronik durch die elektronische Steuerung gemäß der Steuerungsbefehle zum Laden des Akkumulators; und
• - Austauschen von Informationen zwischen der elektronischen Steuerung und dem Akkumulator über die Kommunikationsschnittstelle zur Überwachung des Ladevorgangs.

According to the invention, a method for charging an accumulator with a charging system described above comprises the following method steps:

• - Connecting the energy input of the charger to a vehicle electrical system;
• - connecting the first connection of the charging cable to an energy output of the charging device;
• - Connecting the second connection of the charging cable to an accumulator to be charged;
• - Reading of the first code by the electronic control via the sensor;
• - establishing a communication link between the electronic control and the accumulator using a communication protocol required by the accumulator;
• - Obtaining control commands by the electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller receives the control commands as a function of an instruction provided by interpretation of the first coding from the first coding, a physical storage medium of the charger or a physical storage medium of the accumulator;
• - Controlling the power electronics by the electronic controller according to the control commands for charging the accumulator; and
• - Exchange of information between the electronic control and the accumulator via the communication interface to monitor the charging process.

As already mentioned, the electronic control can read the control commands directly from the charging cable, for example using an EEPROM memory integrated in the charging cable. However, the charging cable can also only be a type drawing of the accumulator, whereupon the electronic controller reads the control commands from a memory integrated in the charger or from the accumulator itself. Communication between the rechargeable battery and the charger is possible via the communication circuit. The electronic controller thus connects the communication path to the communication interface of the communication circuit, with which communication based on the communication protocol required by the accumulator is possible. This is preferably a CAN bus or a UART data line. Diagnostic data or other accumulator information can thus be obtained from the accumulator. The identification of the accumulator and thus the selection of the correct communication protocol as well as the setting or selection of correct charging parameters takes place automatically. A user of the charging device or charging system therefore does not have to carry out any manual operating interventions. This ensures a particularly convenient charging experience when using the charging system according to the invention.

Before the power electronics for charging the accumulator are activated by the electronic controller, the latter preferably checks the second coding of the charging cable and causes the accumulator to be charged only if the second coding comprises an identification feature known to the electronic controller. As a result, safety in the use of the charging system according to the invention can be improved. As already mentioned, only authorized charging cables can be used. Authorized charging cables are then identified via said identification feature. It is not possible to perform charging with charging cables manufactured by third parties, which can reduce the risk of damage and/or fire occurring.

Further advantageous configurations of the charging device according to the invention, the charging cable and thus the charging system as well as the method according to the invention for charging an accumulator also result from the exemplary embodiments which are described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Ladesystems;
• 2 eine schematische Detaildarstellung eines mittels eines Ladekabels über eine Kommunikationsschaltung an ein erfindungsgemäßes Ladegerät angeschlossenen Akkumulators;
• 3 eine schematische Detaildarstellung eines an eine Kommunikationsschnittstelle angeschlossenen Ladekabels.

show:

• 1 a schematic representation of a charging system according to the invention;
• 2 a schematic detailed representation of a battery connected by means of a charging cable via a communication circuit to a charging device according to the invention;
• 3 a schematic detailed representation of a charging cable connected to a communication interface.

1 shows a charging system according to the invention with a charger 1 according to the invention and a charging cable 15 for connecting an accumulator 4 to the charger 1. In the example in 1 two accumulators 4 are connected to the charger 1, each with a charging cable 15.

The charger 1 includes a housing, not shown in detail, in which a power board 12 is arranged. Power electronics 5 are arranged on the power circuit board 12 . The power electronics 5 includes electronic components for manipulating or converting current, such as transformers, coils, lines, resistors, capacitors and the like. The power circuit board 12 also has an energy input 2, via which the charging device 1 can be connected to an energy supply. In particular, a DC voltage vehicle electrical system serves as the energy supply. For example, a voltage of 12 or 24 volts is applied to the energy input 2.

For connecting the charging cable 15 to the charging device 1 , the power circuit board 12 has an energy output 3 for each accumulator 4 . Each energy output 3 includes a communication circuit 7. The communication circuit 7 in turn includes a communication interface 8 to which a first connection 15.1 of the charging cable 15 is connected. The communication interface 8 can be designed as a plug or socket. Arranged laterally next to a respective communication circuit 7 on the power circuit board 12 is an LED 16. The LED 16 can be used as a status LED and indicate a status of a charging process through different flashing modes and/or changing a luminous color. For example, the LED 16 can glow red when a rechargeable battery 4 is being charged and glow green when the rechargeable battery 4 is fully charged. In the event of a fault, the LED 16 can flash, for example.

The charger 1 according to the invention makes it possible to charge accumulators 4 of different designs or different types. It is also possible to charge several accumulators 4 at the same time. Various accumulators 4 each require the charging device 1 to adapt the current provided at the energy output 3 to the charging parameters required by the accumulator 4 . This means that the charger 1 has to provide a specific charging voltage and/or charging current at the energy output 3 . For example, requires a first accumulator 4 charging with 5 volts and second accumulator 4 charging with 12 volts. Depending on the product of charging voltage and charging current, the charging power can also vary.

The conversion of current is possible with the power electronics 5. This is activated or regulated by an electronic controller 6 . The electronic control 6 includes various electronic components such as a microcontroller 17. According to one embodiment, the electronic control 6 is arranged on a processor module 13. FIG. The charging device 1 is therefore of modular design, so that different power boards 12 can be combined with different processor modules 13 to produce different design variants. In this way, chargers 1 can also be repaired particularly quickly and easily if one of the modules is defective.

The processor module 13 and the power board 12 can be connected in any way, for example the processor module 13 can be designed as a plug-in card and plugged into a suitable receptacle on the power board 12, similar to the installation of RAM, PCI-e Cards or M.2 SSDs on a mainboard. This is particularly easy and convenient.

The charging device 1 according to the invention is able to identify a rechargeable battery 4 connected to the charging device 1 via the charging cable 15 and to read out a charging curve suitable for the rechargeable battery 4 from a memory. This memory can be integrated as a physical storage medium in or on the processor module 13, the power board 12 and/or in the first connection 15.1 of the charging cable 15. Information can also be read out of an accumulator 4, for example through communication between the electronic controller 6 and a battery management system of a respective accumulator 4.

To charge different accumulators 4, a user uses a charging cable 15 that matches the accumulator type. A second connection 15.2 of the charging cable 15, which is connected to the first connection 15.1 via an electrical line 15.3, is designed to be connected to the accumulator 4. Accumulators 4 from different manufacturers each have different connections, so that a suitable second connection 15.2 is provided for each type of accumulator.

The battery type is thus identified via the charging cable 15. This includes, as in 3 is still shown, at least a first coding 11.1 and preferably also a second coding 11.2. The respective codes 11.1 and 11.2 can be read out by one or more sensors 10. The sensor or sensors 10 are part of the communication circuit 7. A coding 11.1, 11.2 can be, for example, an RFID tag, an optoelectronic code, an NFC chip, a magnet or the like.

The electronic controller 6 reads the first code 11.1 and obtains information about which type of battery has been connected to the charging device 1. The electronic controller 6 then reads out a suitable charging curve or a suitable charging program from a physical storage medium. The physical storage medium can also be integrated into the charging cable 15, for example in the form of an EEPROM memory. Such an EEPROM memory can be integrated, for example, in the first connection 15.1 of the charging cable 15 and can also form the first coding 11.1 or be read out via this.

A second coding 11.2, which forms an additional security feature, can also be integrated into the first connection 15.1 of the charging cable 15. A charging process is only started by the charger 1 when an identification feature known to it can be read from the second coding 11.2 by the electronic controller 6 . This avoids the use of charging cables 15 manufactured by third parties. Such third-party cables may be of inferior quality, which may result in damage or fire.

Furthermore, accumulators 4, in particular those used in e-bikes and pedelecs, are typically capable of communication. This means that information from the accumulator 4 and/or diagnostic data can be read from the accumulator 4 . This enables the accumulator 4 to be monitored during a charging process. CAN or UART are typically used as the communication protocol for this purpose. For communication with a respective accumulator 4, the communication circuit 7 thus has a first communication path 9.1 and a second communication path 9.2 and possibly further communication paths (not shown) (see FIG 2 ). One of the respective communication paths 9.1, 9.2 can then be connected to the communication interface 8 with a switch 18 that can be actuated by the electronic controller 6. In the case of a CAN bus and a UART data line, the communication paths 9.1 and 9.2 each have two wires.

So shows 2 a detailed view of individual components of the communication circuit 7. You can see the two wires of the first communication path 9.1 and the second communication path 9.2. Depending on the type of battery detected, the electronic controller 6 switches the switch or switches 18 so that a communication path suitable for the type of battery connected to the charger 1 is selected. In 2 the first and second communication paths 9.1 and 9.2 are each shown divided according to wires. So are in 2 on the left side of the communication circuit 7 the first wires CAN-L and UART-RX of the CAN bus and the UART data line are shown and on the right side the respective second wires CAN-H and UART-TX.

3 1 shows a detailed representation of the first connection 15.1 of the charging cable 15. As already mentioned, the electronic controller 6 can use the sensors 10 to read out the first and second codes 11.1 and 11.2.

With the help of the charger 1 according to the invention, the user comfort can be increased in a very special way, which is again based on 1 should be explained. Thus, the charger 1 comprises at least one data interface 14 via which information can be output to the user of the charger 1 and/or data can be transmitted to the charger 1, for example to update firmware or expand compatibility for new battery types .

As a data interface 14, the charger 1 can, for example, have a display connection 14.1, a connection for a portable storage medium 14.2, a Bluetooth module 14.3, a WLAN module 14.4, an NFC module 14.5 and/or a network connection, in particular an Ethernet connection 14.6. In the example in 1 the corresponding data interfaces 14 are arranged on the processor module 13. The processor module 13 can also have other components, such as an input filter 19, a DC/DC converter 20, an FRAM 21, and a module 22 for interpreting or providing various communication protocols.

Reference List

1

charger

2

energy input

3

energy output

4

accumulator

5

power electronics

6

electronic control

7

communication circuit

8th

communication interface

9.1

first communication path

9.2

second communication path

10

sensor

11.1

first encoding

11.2

second encoding

12

power board

13

processor module

14

data interface

14.1

display port

14.2

Connection for a portable storage medium

14.3

Bluetooth module

14.4

WiFi module

14.5

NFC module

14.6

Ethernet port

15

charging cable

15.1

first connection

15.2

second connection

15.3

electrical line

16

LEDs

17

microcontroller

18

Switch

19

input filter

20

DC/DC converter

21

FRAM

22

module

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 202012006053 U1 [0005]
• DE 102010042018 A1 [0006]
• DE 202012103996 U1 [0007]
• DE 102015014173 A1 [0008]
• EP 3552294 B1 [0009]

Claims (12)

Charger (1) with an energy input (2) for supplying energy and at least one energy output (3) for connecting a rechargeable battery (4) to be charged, and with power electronics (5) for converting a power supply fed through from the energy input (2) to the energy output (3). electric current and an electronic controller (6) for controlling or regulating the power electronics (5), the electronic controller (6) being set up to control the power electronics (5) in such a way that, depending on an accumulator that can be connected to the energy output (3). (4) an electrical current intensity and voltage specified for the respective accumulator (4) is provided at the energy output (3), characterized in that the at least one energy output (3) comprises a communication circuit (7) which has a communication interface (8) at least two communication paths (9.1, 9.2) based on different communication protocols and at least one sensor (10) for reading a code (11.1, 11.2), the electronic controller (6) being set up for one of the communication paths (9.1, 9.2) depending on one read coding (11.1) to connect to the communication interface (8). Charger (1) after claim 1 , characterized in that a first communication path (9.1) is formed by a CAN bus and a second communication path (9.2) is formed by a UART data line. Charger (1) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the electronic controller (6) is set up to read out an identification feature of a cable to be connected via the at least one sensor (10) and only to feed through electrical current to the energy output (3) when the electronic controller (6) reads a known identifier. Charger (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized by a power board (12) which includes the power electronics (5) and a processor module (13) which includes the electronic controller (6), wherein the processor module (13) arranged interchangeably on the power board (12). is. Charger (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized by at least one data interface (14) in the form of a display connection (14.1), a connection for a portable storage medium (14.2), a Bluetooth module (14.3), a WLAN module (14.4), an NFC module ( 14.5), and/or a network connection, in particular an Ethernet connection (14.6). Charger (1) after claim 5 , characterized in that the data interface (14) or at least one of the data interfaces (14) is integrated into the processor module (13). Charging cable (15) with a first connection (15.1) for connecting to an energy output (3) of a charger (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , a second connection (15.2) for connecting a rechargeable battery (4) and an electric line (15.3) which connects the first (15.1) and second connection (15.2), characterized by a first coding (1) integrated into the first connection (15.1) 11.1). charging cable (15). claim 7 , characterized by a second coding (11.2) integrated into the first connection (15.1). Charging system with a charger (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 6 and a charging cable (15). claim 7 or 8th , characterized in that the electronic controller (6) is set up to connect one of the communication paths (9.1, 9.2) depending on the first coding (11.1) to the communication interface (8). charging system after claim 9 , characterized in that the second coding (11.2) includes the identification feature. Method for charging an accumulator (4) with a charging system claim 9 or 10 , With the following method steps: - Connecting the energy input (2) of the charger (1) to a vehicle electrical system; - Connecting the first connection (15.1) of the charging cable (15) to an energy output (3) of the charger (1); - Connecting the second connection (15.2) of the charging cable (15) to a rechargeable battery (4) to be charged; - Reading the first coding (11.1) by the electronic controller (6) via the sensor (10); - Establishment of a communication link between the electronic controller (6) and the accumulator (4) using one of the accumulator (4) required communication protocol; - Obtaining control commands through the electronic controller (6), wherein the electronic controller (6) the control commands depending on an interpretation of the first coding (11.1) provided instruction from the first coding (11.1), a physical memory medium of the charger (1) or a physical storage medium of the accumulator (4); - Controlling the power electronics (5) by the electronic controller (6) according to the control commands for charging the accumulator (4); and - Exchange of information between the electronic control (6) and the accumulator (4) via the communication interface (8) for monitoring the charging process. procedure after claim 11 , characterized in that before the power electronics (5) for charging the accumulator (4) are activated by the electronic controller (6), the electronic controller (6) checks the second coding (11.2) of the charging cable (15) and charging the Accumulator (4) only causes when the second coding (11.2) includes a known identification feature of the electronic control (6).

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